Dr. Evans on Managing Side Effects in Lung Cancer Patients

Tracey L. Evans, MD associate professor, clinical medicine, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Health System, gives advice to oncology nurses on how to manage side effects in patients with lung cancer.

Evans says it is important for nurses to conduct a detailed symptom assessment, because patients are not always forthcoming with all of their side effects. Sometimes patients are worried that revealing symptoms may make them ineligible for certain treatments or clinical trials.

It is also important to screen for psychosocial distress, Evans says. Nurses are at the forefront of determining these aspects of a patient’s disease.